Robert Bledsoe Witcher is one of the veteran attorneys of the bar of southern Illinois, having practiced at Olney forty-seven years. During that time he has discharged capably duties and responsibilities as a public official and as a public spirited citizen.
Judge Witcher, who came to Olney in 1877, was born on a plantation in Upshur County, Texas, April 15, 1855.
His parents, Benjamin Wesley and Sarah (Bledsoe) Witcher, were born and reared in Virginia, were married in Georgia, and shortly before the birth of their son settled in Upshur County, Texas.
Benjamin W. Witcher acquired a plantation of 1,280 acres in northeast Texas.
In 1858, when Judge Witcher was three years old, his mother died, leaving beside him, two daughters, Mary and Sarah. The father married again, and he passed away when his son was seven years of age.
Subsequently his widow, Elizabeth, married Dr. Frank Fisk. These were the step-parents of Robert B. Witcher, and he and his sisters grew up in their home, and owed and have given them the affection and respect due to them for the discharge of practically all the obligations of parenthood.
Robert Bledsoe Witcher first attended school in Texas. From that state the Fisk family moved to Indiana, where Doctor Fisk was born. From there another removal was made to Springfield, Missouri, where Robert B. Witcher and his sisters attended Drury College. Judge Witcher completed the scientific course in that well known institution and was graduated in 1876, at the age of twenty-one. While he was in college his step-father moved to Olney, Illinois, where the father of Doctor Fisk, also a physician, had recently died. Judge Witcher while in Springfield learned the printer's trade and on graduating from college spent a year working for a newspaper at St. Joseph, Missouri.
Then, in 1877, he joined his step-parents at Olney. His step-father subsequently removed to Nashville, Tennessee, and became one of the leaders of his profession in that city, living there until his death. Judge Witcher's step-mother is now ninety years of age and resides in New York City.
On coming to Olney Mr. Witcher took up the study of law under James P. Robinson. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and for a brief time practiced in partnership with Mr. Robinson, though the greater part of his forty-seven years as a member of the bar has been spent in practice alone. In 1884 he was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of state's attorney of Richland County and served the term of four years. In after years it was said that he showed as much ability in defending as he had in the prosecution of cases, and he was usually retained in nearly all the important criminal cases in Richland and adjoining counties.
In 1914 he was elected county judge and was reelected in 1918, serving eight years. His term of county judge included the period of the World war, with many extraordinary duties imposed on all public officials, all of which he discharged with admirable patriotism.
Judge Witcher has always affiliated with the democratic party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks and a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Olney. Among the interests that may be classified as diversions he has been particularly fond of horses and has owned several standardbreds.
He married, September 15, 1886, at Olney, Miss Bertha Kitchell.
Her father, Edward Kitchell, achieved the rank of colonel in the Union army during the Civil war and died soon after its close. Judge and Mrs. Witcher had five children: Alice, wife of Kenneth R. Elliott, a resident of Cromwell, Oklahoma; Edward K., a physician at Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph C. Gordon, a resident of Mexia, Texas; Miss Harriet, at home; and Robert B., also a physician, now connected with the King's County Hospital at Brooklyn, New York. Both sons were with
the colors during the World war, but did not get assignment to overseas duty.
Judge Witcher, who came to Olney in 1877, was born on a plantation in Upshur County, Texas, April 15, 1855.
His parents, Benjamin Wesley and Sarah (Bledsoe) Witcher, were born and reared in Virginia, were married in Georgia, and shortly before the birth of their son settled in Upshur County, Texas.
Benjamin W. Witcher acquired a plantation of 1,280 acres in northeast Texas.
In 1858, when Judge Witcher was three years old, his mother died, leaving beside him, two daughters, Mary and Sarah. The father married again, and he passed away when his son was seven years of age.
Subsequently his widow, Elizabeth, married Dr. Frank Fisk. These were the step-parents of Robert B. Witcher, and he and his sisters grew up in their home, and owed and have given them the affection and respect due to them for the discharge of practically all the obligations of parenthood.
Robert Bledsoe Witcher first attended school in Texas. From that state the Fisk family moved to Indiana, where Doctor Fisk was born. From there another removal was made to Springfield, Missouri, where Robert B. Witcher and his sisters attended Drury College. Judge Witcher completed the scientific course in that well known institution and was graduated in 1876, at the age of twenty-one. While he was in college his step-father moved to Olney, Illinois, where the father of Doctor Fisk, also a physician, had recently died. Judge Witcher while in Springfield learned the printer's trade and on graduating from college spent a year working for a newspaper at St. Joseph, Missouri.
Then, in 1877, he joined his step-parents at Olney. His step-father subsequently removed to Nashville, Tennessee, and became one of the leaders of his profession in that city, living there until his death. Judge Witcher's step-mother is now ninety years of age and resides in New York City.
On coming to Olney Mr. Witcher took up the study of law under James P. Robinson. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and for a brief time practiced in partnership with Mr. Robinson, though the greater part of his forty-seven years as a member of the bar has been spent in practice alone. In 1884 he was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of state's attorney of Richland County and served the term of four years. In after years it was said that he showed as much ability in defending as he had in the prosecution of cases, and he was usually retained in nearly all the important criminal cases in Richland and adjoining counties.
In 1914 he was elected county judge and was reelected in 1918, serving eight years. His term of county judge included the period of the World war, with many extraordinary duties imposed on all public officials, all of which he discharged with admirable patriotism.
Judge Witcher has always affiliated with the democratic party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks and a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Olney. Among the interests that may be classified as diversions he has been particularly fond of horses and has owned several standardbreds.
He married, September 15, 1886, at Olney, Miss Bertha Kitchell.
Her father, Edward Kitchell, achieved the rank of colonel in the Union army during the Civil war and died soon after its close. Judge and Mrs. Witcher had five children: Alice, wife of Kenneth R. Elliott, a resident of Cromwell, Oklahoma; Edward K., a physician at Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph C. Gordon, a resident of Mexia, Texas; Miss Harriet, at home; and Robert B., also a physician, now connected with the King's County Hospital at Brooklyn, New York. Both sons were with
the colors during the World war, but did not get assignment to overseas duty.
Robert Bledsoe Witcher is one of the veteran attorneys of the bar of southern Illinois, having practiced at Olney forty-seven years. During that time he has discharged capably duties and responsibilities as a public official and as a public spirited citizen.
Judge Witcher, who came to Olney in 1877, was born on a plantation in Upshur County, Texas, April 15, 1855.
His parents, Benjamin Wesley and Sarah (Bledsoe) Witcher, were born and reared in Virginia, were married in Georgia, and shortly before the birth of their son settled in Upshur County, Texas.
Benjamin W. Witcher acquired a plantation of 1,280 acres in northeast Texas.
In 1858, when Judge Witcher was three years old, his mother died, leaving beside him, two daughters, Mary and Sarah. The father married again, and he passed away when his son was seven years of age.
Subsequently his widow, Elizabeth, married Dr. Frank Fisk. These were the step-parents of Robert B. Witcher, and he and his sisters grew up in their home, and owed and have given them the affection and respect due to them for the discharge of practically all the obligations of parenthood.
Robert Bledsoe Witcher first attended school in Texas. From that state the Fisk family moved to Indiana, where Doctor Fisk was born. From there another removal was made to Springfield, Missouri, where Robert B. Witcher and his sisters attended Drury College. Judge Witcher completed the scientific course in that well known institution and was graduated in 1876, at the age of twenty-one. While he was in college his step-father moved to Olney, Illinois, where the father of Doctor Fisk, also a physician, had recently died. Judge Witcher while in Springfield learned the printer's trade and on graduating from college spent a year working for a newspaper at St. Joseph, Missouri.
Then, in 1877, he joined his step-parents at Olney. His step-father subsequently removed to Nashville, Tennessee, and became one of the leaders of his profession in that city, living there until his death. Judge Witcher's step-mother is now ninety years of age and resides in New York City.
On coming to Olney Mr. Witcher took up the study of law under James P. Robinson. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and for a brief time practiced in partnership with Mr. Robinson, though the greater part of his forty-seven years as a member of the bar has been spent in practice alone. In 1884 he was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of state's attorney of Richland County and served the term of four years. In after years it was said that he showed as much ability in defending as he had in the prosecution of cases, and he was usually retained in nearly all the important criminal cases in Richland and adjoining counties.
In 1914 he was elected county judge and was reelected in 1918, serving eight years. His term of county judge included the period of the World war, with many extraordinary duties imposed on all public officials, all of which he discharged with admirable patriotism.
Judge Witcher has always affiliated with the democratic party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks and a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Olney. Among the interests that may be classified as diversions he has been particularly fond of horses and has owned several standardbreds.
He married, September 15, 1886, at Olney, Miss Bertha Kitchell.
Her father, Edward Kitchell, achieved the rank of colonel in the Union army during the Civil war and died soon after its close. Judge and Mrs. Witcher had five children: Alice, wife of Kenneth R. Elliott, a resident of Cromwell, Oklahoma; Edward K., a physician at Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph C. Gordon, a resident of Mexia, Texas; Miss Harriet, at home; and Robert B., also a physician, now connected with the King's County Hospital at Brooklyn, New York. Both sons were with
the colors during the World war, but did not get assignment to overseas duty.
Judge Witcher, who came to Olney in 1877, was born on a plantation in Upshur County, Texas, April 15, 1855.
His parents, Benjamin Wesley and Sarah (Bledsoe) Witcher, were born and reared in Virginia, were married in Georgia, and shortly before the birth of their son settled in Upshur County, Texas.
Benjamin W. Witcher acquired a plantation of 1,280 acres in northeast Texas.
In 1858, when Judge Witcher was three years old, his mother died, leaving beside him, two daughters, Mary and Sarah. The father married again, and he passed away when his son was seven years of age.
Subsequently his widow, Elizabeth, married Dr. Frank Fisk. These were the step-parents of Robert B. Witcher, and he and his sisters grew up in their home, and owed and have given them the affection and respect due to them for the discharge of practically all the obligations of parenthood.
Robert Bledsoe Witcher first attended school in Texas. From that state the Fisk family moved to Indiana, where Doctor Fisk was born. From there another removal was made to Springfield, Missouri, where Robert B. Witcher and his sisters attended Drury College. Judge Witcher completed the scientific course in that well known institution and was graduated in 1876, at the age of twenty-one. While he was in college his step-father moved to Olney, Illinois, where the father of Doctor Fisk, also a physician, had recently died. Judge Witcher while in Springfield learned the printer's trade and on graduating from college spent a year working for a newspaper at St. Joseph, Missouri.
Then, in 1877, he joined his step-parents at Olney. His step-father subsequently removed to Nashville, Tennessee, and became one of the leaders of his profession in that city, living there until his death. Judge Witcher's step-mother is now ninety years of age and resides in New York City.
On coming to Olney Mr. Witcher took up the study of law under James P. Robinson. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and for a brief time practiced in partnership with Mr. Robinson, though the greater part of his forty-seven years as a member of the bar has been spent in practice alone. In 1884 he was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of state's attorney of Richland County and served the term of four years. In after years it was said that he showed as much ability in defending as he had in the prosecution of cases, and he was usually retained in nearly all the important criminal cases in Richland and adjoining counties.
In 1914 he was elected county judge and was reelected in 1918, serving eight years. His term of county judge included the period of the World war, with many extraordinary duties imposed on all public officials, all of which he discharged with admirable patriotism.
Judge Witcher has always affiliated with the democratic party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. Elks and a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Olney. Among the interests that may be classified as diversions he has been particularly fond of horses and has owned several standardbreds.
He married, September 15, 1886, at Olney, Miss Bertha Kitchell.
Her father, Edward Kitchell, achieved the rank of colonel in the Union army during the Civil war and died soon after its close. Judge and Mrs. Witcher had five children: Alice, wife of Kenneth R. Elliott, a resident of Cromwell, Oklahoma; Edward K., a physician at Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph C. Gordon, a resident of Mexia, Texas; Miss Harriet, at home; and Robert B., also a physician, now connected with the King's County Hospital at Brooklyn, New York. Both sons were with
the colors during the World war, but did not get assignment to overseas duty.
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